AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION-RELATED ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000919 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA CI SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION-RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR HAITI WITH SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL REF: A. SANTIAGO 00863 ¶B. STATE 64057 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi L. Yamauchi. Reasons: 1.4 ( b and d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador followed-up Post's earlier demarche on international assistance for election efforts in Haiti with Foreign Ministry Director General for External Relations Carlos Portales on May 3. Portales reiterated that the GOC had not yet initiated internal discussions about whether it could provide technical or financial assistance to support election efforts. ¶2. (C) Portales related that he and his Argentine and Brazilian counterparts recently had exchanged ideas regarding economic assistance for the new Haitian government. Chile has had similar discussions with the Europeans, in particular the Spanish. Portales commented that there was agreement Haiti needed an "economic success story" soon to strengthen the new Haitian government and generate confidence among the Haitian people. Portales expressed concern about reports that the World Bank and possibly other international financial institutions (IFIs) were considering removing Haiti from a list of countries entitled to receive certain forms of assistance from IFIs. ¶3. (C) In general terms, Portales said that President Bachelet was committed to remaining engaged in Haiti. Bachelet's decision to send a high-level delegation (e.g., Minister of Defense Blanlot, members of Congress) to Haiti's presidential inauguration on May 14 was designed to demonstrate Chile's support for democracy and stabilization efforts there. ¶4. (SBU) Note: Portales will no longer travel to Haiti for meetings on May 4-5, as reported in reftel A. According to Portales' chief of staff, President Bachelet asked Portales to remain in Santiago this week to finalize preparations for a meeting between South American and European leaders in Vienna the following week. MFA/North American Affairs Director Emilio Ruiz-Tagle will travel to Haiti in Portales' place. KELLY